Case 3-25 Creating a motivational mechanism: campaign to release juvenile cymbiums

Cymbium, setting a closed season, Nianing, stamp card, motivation for activities, juvenile shellfish release campaign, COPAO, International Women’s Day

Resource management of octopus has spread throughout Mbour and has come to be known as a successful example of community-led co-management of fishery resources. In contrast, resource management of cymbium had not spread as a continuous resource management activity, with only a few residents releasing juvenile cymbium in small quantities as of April 2022. As a result, the catch of cymbium decreased drastically, and the size of cymbium landed became smaller. Owing to unsuccessful experiences, residents are hardly interested in cymbium resource management activities. Under these circumstances, what can be done to motivate residents to engage in resource management activities for cymbium?

History of cymbium resource management in Petite-Côte

In 2003, the first year of JICA’s development study, resource management of octopus (establishment of a closed season and introduction of octopus pots for spawning) and cymbium (establishment of a closed season and release of juvenile shellfish) was introduced in Nianing. In 2004, this activity was also implemented in the neighbouring villages of Mballing and Pointe Sarène. In the subsequent 20 years, octopus resource management spread throughout Mbour Province and became known as a successful example of resident-led joint management of fishery resources, while strengthening cooperation among stakeholders in the value chain, such as when a marine product export company paid for the production of octopus pots for spawning.

However, although resource management of cymbium was conducted in the three villages above, no fishing season was set after the completion of the development study. In 2022, only a few residents were engaged in the release of juvenile cymbium. The reason why resource management activities for cymbium did not spread was that cymbium landings accounted for 65% of the total marine product landings in the Nianing area at that time⁵. Moreover, as cymbium was caught stably throughout the year, it became an important target resource for maintaining small-scale fishermen’s livelihood, and external underwater fishermen entered the same fishing grounds during the period when Nianing and neighbouring villages were on a fishing break.

As a result, both the catch of cymbium in the Nianing and the size of cymbium landed decreased significantly. The depletion of the resource is mainly due to the lack of resource management activities. Fishermen who once relied on the catch of cymbium as their main source of livelihood were forced to switch to other fishery species.

Attitudes of Petite-Côte residents toward cymbium resource management
In April 2022, fishermen in Sindia Sud, which includes the village of Nianing, were interviewed. They were keenly aware that the catch of cymbium had drastically decreased year by year. Although a handful of people still released juvenile cymbium, they were of the view that setting a closed season for cymbium fishing in one or a few villages has little effect, and that there is no momentum to set a closed season at this time. This is due to the memory of past resource management activities that did not spread.

Although the residents of the Nianing area were interested in releasing juvenile cymbium, they were reluctant to do so because of their past failure in cymbium resource management. Accordingly, it is necessary to re-motivate residents to participate in such resource management activities. To achieve that purpose, it was considered that a campaign would be appropriate as a way to involve more people in releasing juvenile cymbium, an activity that continued, albeit in a small way.

A mechanism for strengthening motivation
To rekindle enthusiasm among those who remember past unsuccessful resource management activities in cymbium, COPAO implemented a campaign for releasing juvenile cymbium. This campaign took place simultaneously in two locations in Grande-Côte (Lompoul and Fas Boye) and two locations in Petite-Côte (Nianing and DJifer) from May 2022 to July 2023, spanning 14 months. The duration of the campaign was designed to boost residents’ motivation to engage in the same activity.

The purpose, method, and expected results of the cymbium release were discussed and agreed upon with members of the CLPA executive committee, who would be contact points for the activity in the community. As a motivational (emotional) device, every woman who brought the released juvenile had a card stamped as a token of her achievement, and a prize worth XOF 1,500 was offered to those who filled their stamp cards (equivalent to 200 juvenile) and registered. Moreover, a simple presentation ceremony was held in front of the many participants gathered at the meeting, incorporating a sense of accomplishment. Furthermore, the top achievers were invited to the International Women’s Day festival on 15 March 2023, in the village of Nianing where they were presented with a certificate of appreciation and a supplementary prize for their efforts on the stage.

The community women of Grande-Côte released juvenile cymbium in the past, but they were not sure why they were doing it. Through this campaign, some of them said they now understand why it was necessary and desirable to conduct the release.

The campaign helped many of the campaign participants understand the reasons for releasing juvenile cymbium and gave them a sense of motivation and accomplishment. As a result, more than 150,000 juvenile cymbium were released in the four regions during the campaign period. Campaigns can be a way to maintain and strengthen motivation for resource management activities within a limited budget, without the need for extensive funding from external donors.

Chapter 3 Implementation of resource management measures

3.2 Measures to strengthen the sustainability of resource management

Clarify the motivating factors for resource management activities and consider creating mechanisms to motivate participants. The resource management organisation should inform the target community of the motivational enhancement measures examined, secure a budget in cooperation with the government, and develop an activity plan. Then, the organisation should prepare a budget, monitor resource management activities according to predetermined criteria, share the results with relevant parties, and apply the motivation enhancement measures, such as giving awards to those who perform well.

When there is no support from external donors and measures are required to maintain and strengthen motivation for resource management activities within a limited budget, a campaign plan similar to this case study can be considered.